The relationship between regionalism and globalisation. (OCR A-Level Politics): Revision Notes

33.2.1 The relationship between regionalism and globalisation.

Regionalism and globalisation

There is debate over whether globalisation works with or against regionalism

One one hand: regional blocs must merely act as a way to better organise global relations and since states have grouped together it has been much easier to act as a whole.

Arguably this can enhance globalisation as states working together makes global affairs easier to conduct

Others argue that regionalism acts as a stumbling bloc in globalisation as they have become more inward-looking and put efforts into their own part of the globe rather than the overall picture

Does regionalism act as a stumbling or building bloc to globalisation?

Building	Stumbling
Regional blocs enhance globalisation by compartmentalising the globe making it 'smaller' and more manageable • the 'global village argument'.	Inward-looking regional blocs display a regional 'egoism' in the way that they are only interested by the concerns of their own region and therefore have an isolationist policy.
Regional blocs organise states into those that have similar goals, making global governance more efficient.	Regional blocs may be cut off economically though the implementation of protectionist policies that impinge the movement of free trade.
Regionalism is compatible with globalisation • it involves similar processes of cooperation, multilateralism and governance but just on a smaller scale.	Regionalism is incongruous with globalisation because instead of enhancing the global community and global civil society, it further divides the world into segments.
Outwardly looking regional blocs want to make the most of global networks and are simply acting as a larger unit than the nation-state.	Regional blocs are different in character meaning they cannot effectively act together to organise global relations. e.g. AU threatening to pull out of the ICC.
Security • regional organisations can enhance security e.g. AU peacekeeping and the growing military role of the EU as well as its economic project has stabilised Europe.	Some organisations are too weak • the Arab League was not able to influence either the causes or effects of the Arab Uprising. NAFTA (now USMCA) did not bind the more isolationist Trump into a more pro• globalisation set of politics.